Earth anchor



y 1934- A. B. CHANCE Re. 19,177

EARTH ANCHOR Original Filed March 14. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May'ZZ,1934. r A. B. cHANbE Re. 19,177

EARTH ANCHOR Origina1 -Filed March 14. 1928' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ReiuueclMay 2 2, 1934 EARTH ANCHOR Albert B. Chance, Oentralia, M0.

Original No. 1,755,811, dated April 22, 1930, Serial No. 261,498, March14, 1928. Application for reissue January 23, 1932, Serial No. 588,451

Claims.

The present invention relates to earth anchors, and is more particularlyconcerned with all types of earth anchors having guy rods securedthereto by nuts or similar fastening means.

5 The present invention is equally adaptable to anchors of the conetype, as well as other types, such as the expanding anchor shown inTaylor & Sutcliife Patent No. 1,546,327, dated July 14, 1925. In theinstallation of such anchors, it is customary to insert the threaded endof the gin rod in the aperture provided in the anchor and to place a nuton the guyrod below the anchor. After a hole has been dug, the guy rodserves as a handle for positioning the anchor in the hole, butconsiderable diiliculty is experienced in the insertion of the anchor,because the anchor is relatively loose otherwise displaced from itsnormal position, in

which it projects above the earth, forming a dangerous and ofteninvisible obstruction in the weeds along the right' of way. As the nutis generally rusted fast to the rod even after a short period of use andexposure to the humid conditions in the earth, it is difllcult, if notpractically impossible, to remove the guy rod entirely without diggingup the anchor. The latter course would obviously involve too much labor,and I prefer to drive the guy rods through the anchors into the earthwith a sledge hammer or other driving tool, until the top of the guy rodis sunk into the earth. This operation is impossible with the guy rodsand anchors of the prior art, and one of the objects of the presentinvention is the provision of means for securing a' guy rod to ananchor, which also permits'the driving in of the guy rod at a later timewhen it is desired to bury the guy rod in the earth.

Another object of the invention is the provision 45 bf earth anchorshaving thrust means for resisting separation of the guy rod and ananchor, and frangible means for securely positioning the anchor on therod during installation, but which may be broken by a sledge hammer blowupon means having one.or more points ofweakness whereby said securingmeans may be broken by impact upon the end of the guy rod.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully fromthe following description and from the accompanying drawings, 00 inwhich similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, of which there are two sheets:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the guy rod 65 and anchor with theanchor shown in medial cross section;

Figure 2 is a similar view in partial cross section; v

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the anchor;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the anchor after theretaining lugs have been broken for the purpose of releasing the guy rodto bury it in the earth;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the expanding type of anchor;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the same; and

Figure '1 is a bottomplan view of the expanding anchor shown in expandedposition.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, 10 indicates'in its entirety a cone anchorof conventional type, comprising a cast metal body having asubstantially frusto-conical exterior surface 11 and an axial bore 12.The cone anchor may be formed with a hollow interior 13 for the purposeof saving material and reducing the cost of the anchor, but the wall ofthe anchor may be substantially thickened at the top 14, adjacent theguy rod 15. Below the bore 12 the anchor is preferably provided with anon-circular depression 16 adapted to receive a nut 17 carried by thethreaded end 18 of the anchor, and for convenience in casting, thedepression 16 may be tapered toward the outside; as shown.

The guy rod 15 may be provided with any type of eye 19 for securing aguy, and the rod is secured to the anchor by inserting the same throughthe bore 12 and threading the nut 17 upon the end 18. The nut 17 isadapted to resist separation of the rod 15 and the anchor 10 whentension is put upon the guy and guy rod, but it does not prevent theanchor 10 from sliding upward on the. guy rod when the anchor is beinginserted in the anchor hole, using the rod as a handle.

In the latter operation, dimculty is often experienced due to the factthat the anchor 10 will catch in the side of the anchor hole, and theguy rod 15 will then slide freely through the bore 12 to the bottom ofthe anchor hole. and considerable 119 inside top of wall 21 of thechamber 13, so that the nut 17 may be inserted between said wall and thetop of the lugs 20, and the rod may then be inserted through the bore 12and threaded into the nut 17; while the nut l'lis held in this positon,by

hand or by the depression 16 in the anchor. I desire it to be understoodthat any number of the lugs may be employed, providing they are soformed and located as to eflect the purposes herelnafter described.

After the anchor and guy rod have been in the earth for even a shortperiod of time, the nut 17 is invariably so corroded that it isdiflicult to remove it from the rod 15. If it is desired to abandon theanchor and guy rod 15, and this is the most economical course when theanchor is no longer required, I prefer to so form my anchor that the guyrod may be driven down into the earth by using a sledge hammer on theupper end of the guy rod. For this purpose the lugs 20 may be so formedthat they can be broken by a blow with the sledge hammer on the top ofthe guy rod.

If desired, a definite line of weakness or a frangible point in the lugs20 maybe provided by forming a notch 22 in each of the legs adjacent thebody of the anchor 19,-but this is not necessaryif the lugs arethemselves made sufliciently frangible to be broken by a blow upon thegay rod 15, transmitted by the nut 17 to the lugs.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated the position of the lugs 20 after theyhave been broken by such an operation, and the guy rod 15 in Figure 4may now be driven down into'the earth and substantially buried beneaththe surfaceof the earth so that it no longer forms a dangerous obstaclealong the right of way.

Referring to Figures 5 to 'l, I have here illustrated a two-wayexpansion anchor of the type shown in the patent to which reference ismade above. As this type of anchor is described in detail in thatpatent, reference will merely be made to the various parts, but it willbe'observed that the present invention is adaptable to all typesofanchors.

The expanding anchor may consist of a supporting plate 23 forming thebottom of the anchor and substantially circular in form, to utilize thefull cross sectional area of a post hole. The bottom plate 23 iscorrugated as at 24 to increase its strengtm'and it is provided with apair of apertures 25 adapted to receive the bent-over lugs 26, carriedby a guide plate 2'1 having a pair of downwardly turned flanges 28 forspacing said guide plate from the supporting plate 23. 'Slidably mountedbetween the guide plate; 2'1 and the supporting plate 23 are a pair ofsliding plates 28 and 29 having smaller corrugations 30 adapted to nestwith each other and with the corrugations 24 upon the supporting plate.as well as the corrugations 31 in the guide plate. The

bottom plate 23 and the guide plate 2'7 are provided with registeringcentral apertures 32 adapted to receive a guy, rod, and the slide plates28A and 29 are provided with elongated slots 33 and 34,

respectively, also adapted to embrace the guy rod and register with theapertures '32 in any position of the sliding plates. The sliding 29 arealso formed with an oflset 35 and 36 extending parallel to the slots 33and 34, in such manner that the separate legs of the plates 28 and 29 oneither side of the slots 33 and 34 may be placed in converse position,one above the. other on each side of the anchor, that is, the plate 28plates 28 and crosses the plate 29 at the slots 33 and 34, and one legof the plate 28 is above the plate 29 while the other leg of the plate28 may be below plate 29.

The plates 28 and 29 are each pivotally connected by a U-shaped member37 to a ribbed toggle link 38.'the toggle links being pivotallyconnected at their opposite ends to a guidelink 39 comprising a metalplate having a central aperture 40 formed with a flange 41 adapted toguide the plate 39 upon a guy rod. The guy rod may be inserted throughthe apertures 40 and 32 and the anchor secured to the rod by a nut belowthe bottom plate 23.

In order to'provide similar means on this type r ,may each consist of astrip of sheet metal having an attaching flange 43, spot welded orotherwise secured to the bottom plate 23, as at 44, and also having anoffset 45 and another flange 46 substantially parallel to the attachingflange 43. The offset 45 is of suiflcient length to permit insertion ofthe nut between the bottom plate 23 and the flange 46, and the flange 46may be provided with a semi-circular notch 4'7 adapted to register withthe aperture 32 for the guy rod. The frangible members 42 are, ofcourse, separated from each other at the point 48.

The operation of the present modification is substantially the same aspreviously described. The anchor and guy rod may be installed in theusual manner, and the anchor expanded by tamping upon the top plate 39,which transmits the force to the toggle links 38 and pushes out thesliding plates 28 and 29 into the surrounding earth. When it is desiredto abandon an anchor and anchor rod, the rod may be given a sharp blowupon its upper end with a sledge hammer, and the frangible members 42will break or bend downward, permitting the nut to pass them andpfirmitting the guy rod to slide through the anc or.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an earth anchor havingmeans for securely positioning the anchor upon a guy rod during theinstallation of the anchor, but my invention also permits the release ofthe guy rod from the anchor when it is desired to drive the guy rod intotheearth and to abandon the rod and anchor.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish vto be limited said rod, means on said rodfor preventing movement of said anchor oil. said end,.and frangiblemeans carried by said anchor for positioning said anchor on said rod.

2. In an earth anchor, the combination of a tension member, with ananchor, means on said" member engaging said anchor and means on saidanchor engaging above and below said first mentioned means, said lattermeans including a frangible part.

3. In a device oi'the class described, the combination of a guy rod withan anchor having an aperture for 'said rod, a nut carried by said rodbelow said anchor and a pair of lugs carried by said anchor below saidnut, said lugs being iormed with a frangible portion for releasing saidrod to bury the same in the earth.

4. In an earth anchor, the combination of a cast metal member ofsubstantially irusto-conical shape and having an axial bore, with a guyrod adapted to be -received-in said bore, said irusto-conical memberhaving a non-circular socket aligned with said bore and adapted toreceive a nut carried by said guy rod, a threaded portion on said guyrod, a nut carried by said threaded portion, and a pair of integral lugscarried by said irusto-conical member and projecting toward said guy rodand below said nut,

sai lugs being formed with predeterminedi'rangible portions adapted tobe broken by impact anchor in a hole by means 01' upon theend of saidguy rod, said lugs being spaced suillciently from said socket to permitinsertion of said nut from the under side or said 6. In an earth anchor,the combination of a guy rod, with an earth anchor adapted to be placedby said guy rod, means on the lower end of said guy rod for-engaging theanchor and transmitting a pull from the guy rod to the anchor andfrangible means carried by the anchor. and engaging below said firstmentioned means to prevent the anchor sliding upward on the guy rod inthe act of insertion of the anchor by the "I. In an earth anchor, thecombination of a guy rod, with an earth anchor adapted to be placed bysaid'guy rod, said guy rod having a threaded portion and said anchorhaving an aperture passing said threaded portion, with a threaded memberfor engaging the threaded portion of said rod, and frangible anchorparts located on the opposite sides of saidthreaded member to transmit apush on said guy rod to said anchor and to prevent said anchor slidingup said rod when the anchorvengages an obstruction in the act or placingth the rod. 8. In an earth anchor, the combination of a guy rod with anearth anchor having a bore for slidably receiving the guy rod, said guyrod having a threaded end, a nut on said threaded end below a part ofsaid anchor, and a frangible part carried by the anchor below the nut toengage the nut andto prevent the anchor sliding up on the guy rod.

9. In an earth anchor, the combination of a guy rod having a'threadedportion, with a nut carried by said threaded portion, and an expansibleearth anchor comprising abottomplate having an aperture to receive saidguy rod, a pair or sheet metal flukes slidably mounted on said bottomplate, a crosshead slidably mounted on said guy rod, a link from each ofsaid nukes to said crosshead and bendable means for positioning saidanchor on said rod, comprising a pair of sheet metal members embracingsaid nut, to prevent rotation thereof and having stop portionsprojecting toward each other below said nut.

10. An earth anchor installation comprising a guvrod having a threadedend, anchor member having a bore passing throug the same for receivingsaid guy rod and slidably engaging said guy rod to permit movement oi!said guy rod relative to said anchor under predetermined conditions, a.nut carried by said threaded end and located on the lower side of saidanchor, engaging the lower part of said anchor to transmit a pull fromsaid guy rod to said anchor, and a pair or laterally projecting memberscarried by the anchor and located directly beneath said nut to preventsaid anchor from sliding upward on said guy rod when the anchor isplaced in .a hole by means of the guy rod, said members being adapted tobe broken by engagement with said nut 10 when a blow is struck on theupper end of said guy rod.

11. an earth anchor installation comprising a guy rod having a threadedend, an anchor member having a bore through'the same for receiving saidguy rod and slidably engaging said guy rod to permit movement of saidguy rod relative to said anchor under predetermined conditions, a nutcarried by said threaded end and located on the lower side of saidanchor, engaging the lower part of said anchor to transmit a pull fromsaid guy rod to said anchor, and a pair 0! laterally projecting memberscarried by the anchor and located directly beneath said nut to preventsaid anchor from sliding upward on said guy rod when the anchor isplaced in a hole by means of the guy rod, said members comprising sheetmetal members adapted to be bent by engagement with said nut when a blowis struck on I the upper end oi said guy rod to permit said 8119120 rodto pass through said anchor.

12. The method of disabling an earth anchor and disposing of the guy rodwhich comprises breaking a frangible part of the anchor by striking ablow on the end or the guy rod, whereby said rod engages said partthereby causing the guy rod to slide through the anchor, and driving theguy rod down into the earth through the anchor until the guy rod iscompletely embedded v v 13. In an'earth anchor, the combination of asubstantially cylindrical guy rod, said guy rod being provided withthreads at its lower end, an earth anchor having a substantiallycylindrical bore extending through the same and adapted to be slidablymounted on said guy rod, and the end having a nut internally threadedcomplementarily to the threads on said guy rod, said nut being locatedbelow said anchor and engaging said anchor to-resist a pull on said guyrod,

14. In an earth anchor, the combination 01' a substantially cylindricalguy. rod, said guy rod being provided with threads at its lower-end, anearth anchor having a substantially cylindrical bore. extending throughthe same substantially! axiallyoisaidearthanchorandadaptedtobe slidablymounted on said guy rod. and the end having a nut internally threadedcomplementarily to the threads on said guy rod, said nut being locatedbelow said anchor and directly enseeing said anchor to resist a pullonsaid guy rod, and an integral extension of said anchor locatedadjacent said nutand extending below the same to prevent the slidingupward of said anchor on said guy rod during the installation oi. saidanchor by said guy rod, said extension being suiilciently spaced fromsaid anchor to permt lateral insertion of said nut below'said anchor andabove said extension whereupon saidguyrodisthreadedintosaidnutwhileheldin proper position in said anchor.

15. In an earth anchor, the combination of a substantially conicalmember provided with a cylindrical bore located substantially axially ofthe conical anchor. said conical anchor having a non-circular socketlocated below said anchor and communicating with said bore, and a guyrod through said bore threaded into a nut. said nut being located insaid non-circular socket drectly 'said anchor and an integral shouldercarried by said anchor and located below said socket extending undersaid nut to prevent the sliding upward oi' said anchor on said any rodduring the installation of said anchor by said guy rod.

ALBERT B. CHANCE.

